by sportswriters Hu Jiali, Ma Sijia and Cao Yibo

SANYA, China, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- For Ankar Erkin, a 35-year-old athlete from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, post-match gift exchange could redeem his loss at China's 12th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities.

In the second round of the men's pearl ball group stage, Ankar led Xinjiang in a thrilling contest against Shandong. The match was fiercely competitive, with Xinjiang ultimately falling just three points short of victory.

His frustration, however, was greatly reduced when players from both teams exchanged embraces, words of encouragement, and gifts. He received a Luban lock, a traditional Chinese folk educational toy. The three-dimensional interlocking puzzle symbolizes unity and ingenuity.

As a return, the Xinjiang athletes offered camel plush toys, representing the cultural heritage of the Silk Road.

"From Mount Tai to Tianshan Mountains, our hearts are united. Xinjiang is a beautiful place, and hospitable Shandong welcomes you," players from both sides proclaimed as they posed for photos, demonstrating the bond that had been formed between them.

"We gave everything on the court, but we admired and supported each other, just like brothers," Ankar said.

During the opening ceremony last Friday, Ankar connected with athletes from Hong Kong and other delegations, and he came to understand that one of the true purposes of the Games was to cultivate a profound sense of community across the Chinese nation.

"The most important thing is meeting, supporting, and learning from one another. There are no ethnic boundaries here - just a shared sense of unity," he added.

On the shuttlecock-kicking court, culturally significant gifts became tokens of friendship.

The Hong Kong delegation distributed dragon-shaped pins and shuttlecock-themed pendants to other teams. "It is the first time that Hong Kong has participated in the Games, and this is a great platform for building friendships," said Ng Yiu Keung, the team's coach.

Tuesday's gala for the Games represented the peak of cultural and gift exchanges. The Hainan hosts presented island-themed scarves to the Liaoning athletes, who reciprocated with embroidered pouches made of tussah silk.

The Hong Kong delegation also gave dragon-shaped pins to the Zhejiang team, which, in return, gifted Longquan celadon ceramics.

"As the Games began, we felt like one big family. These gifts symbolize our shared connection and deepen our friendships," said Wang Jiajia from Zhejiang.

Beyond the competitions themselves, the nine-day Games have emerged as a platform for fostering friendships among all ethnic groups in China. Enditem

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